Package assembly including a top member and an endless heat shrunk enclosure band



EL G. CIUPFHNG PACKAGE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A TOP MEMBER AND ENDLESS HEATSHRUNK ENCLOSURE BAND Filed Jan. l2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Il l l 1 l II i WAMP I 2 Z5 I l f4 i-/ l Il y I i I /Ao ,/j i l i a 1 L I I l) MLA jN y I ,2j V M aj INVENTOR. BRUCE @.CGPWNG AT'TYS.

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PACKAGE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A TOP MEMBER AND Filed Jan. 12, 1965 FMS.

United States Patent hee Patented Feb. 7, 1957 Filed Jan. 12, 1965, Ser.No. 425,037 12 Claims. (Cl. 20G-65) The present invention relates topackage assemblies for carrying a plurality of articles, such as canstherein, and Where the new and improved package `includes an endlessheat shrunk enclosure fband extending around the packaged articles and atop member positioned thereover.

Heretofore there have been many diiferent types of package assemiblymeans provided for use in the beverage industries. These enclosures, inmany instances, have ineluded some type of lightweight cardboard meansthat are adapted to receive a plurality of cylindrical articles therein.The packages usually have included six articles, or containers, but inother instances, eight articles have been packaged in one enclosure,While it is also possible to package a few number of articles, such astwo, three or four articles in some of the previous enclosures.

In view of the extensive use of package assemblies for soft drinks,Abeer and other beverages, and the great quantity of articles sold inthese packages, or assemblies, the cost of the individual package is animportant factor in the cost of the packaged assembly as sold. Hence,relatively small changes in the costs of the package assemblies, or inthe appearance of the package assemblies, or in the strength thereof arevery important. Then too, it is important that the articles be packaged,preferably, so that the contents of the packages are clearly visibleand/ or that the contents of the package clearly are identified in thepackage means.

One patent in this eld is my own prior Patent No. 3,118,537 whichdiscloses an improvedI carrier and package assembly and the presentinvention relates to package assemblies of the same general type asdisclosed therein.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a novel andimproved package assembly, and particularly a package assembly includinga heat shrunk endless plastic film enclosure extending around thepackaged articles and atop means provided thereover, which assembly ischaracterized by the provision of a pair of transversely directed,downwardly extending center sections in the top means of the assembly toprovide improved stability and strength in the package pro-duced.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved inexpensivepackage assembly wherein grasping means are provided in longitudinallyspaced portions of a top means, or member in the package assembly, butwherein the strength of the 'top member and the engagement actionthereof with a number of packaged articles is not seriously impaired bythe provision of the grasping means in the package assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedassembly for a plurality of cylindrical articles, such as cans, thathave top chimes or chime rings thereon and wherein the articles beingpackaged are arranged inthe number of rows in the packaged article andwith all of the adjacent articles in the package having the top chimesrings thereof abutted against each other and with the top means in theassembly and `the cans packaged all being held in tight engagementagainst axial or transverse displacement of the packaged articles in thepackage assembly.

A further object of the linvention is to provide a novel and improvedpackage assembly for a number of cylindrical articles, which assembly iscompetitive in cost, Iattractive in appearance, and which can be readilyand inexpensively applied to a number of packaged articles byA automaticapparatus.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will bemade more apparent as the specification proceeds.

Attention now is particularly directed to the accompany` ing drawings,wherein:

FIG. l is a top plan of a packaging blan-k from which the top means ormember in the packaging assembly of the invention is made;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the packaging -blank of FlG. 1 in itsoperative position, or shape;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one novel package assembly of theinvention in its completed form;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the longitudinalcenter lineof the package assembly of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken on line S--S of FIG-4.

When referring to corresponding memlbers shown in` the drawings andreferred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used tofacilitate comparison therebetween.

The present invention is shown and described in rela" tion to theconventional, or most widely used type of package assembly of theinvention. Thus the package assembly of the invention is shown designedfor and in assoclation with six cylindrical articles or containers suchas those as can 'be used in the beer or soft drink industry and theinvention will be so described. However, as indicated hereinbefore, thepackaging assembly of the invention can be used for enclosing othernumbers an outer wall and -being spaced from an edge seotion about thedistance of a diameter of the cansfor receivingY a row of canstherebetween, and with the remaining walls of the center sections beinginner Walls spaced for receiving a row of cans therebetween, a pluralityof cans are positioned below the top means in a plurality of trans`versely extending rows to provide an assembly of the cans, at least oneWall of each of the double wall centersections of the top means beingcontinuous from margin to margin of the top meansto provide increasedstability in the package assembly, chime engaging means on each wall ofthe center and edge sections in opposed relation for engaging the chimerings of the cans, an open Vended heat shrunk endless band means thattightly engage the` cans in the top means and extend fully around thesides,

tops and bottoms of the cans in the assembly to retain the cans groupedtogether in compact assembly in xed association with the top means.

Reference now is directed to the details of the structure as shown in.the accompanying drawings, and a top means, or top member -or sheet isindicated as a whole by the numeral 1. This top means 1 is preferablymade from some light weight, inexpensive but relatively sturdy material,such as paperboard, cardboard or the like, and the top member 1 has apair of center sections 2 and 3 provided therein in spaced and parallelrelationship with each of such center sections extending what may beconsidered the width of the elongate top member 1. Each of the centersections 2 and 3` has a pair of walls 4 and 5,

and 6 and 7, respectively, provided therein, which walls are downwardlydirected when the top member is in its operative form or shape. Onewall, the wall 4 and the Wall 6, respectively, :of the center sections,may 'be termed the outer walls of such sections and these walls arespaced from edge sections 8 and 9 that are provided on the top member 1so as to be spaced from the walls 4 and 6 substantially the diameter ofthe articles to be packaged for receiving a row of such articles, suchas cans 10, as hereinafter described, therebetween. The other walls and7 of the center sections are considered to be the axially inner walls ofthe top member, and these walls are spaced from each other a distancesubstantially equal to the diameter of the cans 10 for again receiving acan, or a row of cans therebetween. The inner walls S and 7 also definetherebetween a center section or panel 11 in the vtop member 1. When theedge sections 8 and 9 are operatively positioned, they extenddownwardly, and end sections -or panels 12 and 13 are formed in the topmeans, or top member 1 intermediate the outer walls 4 and 6 and theadjacent edge sections S and 9, respectively.

It will be realized that the top member of means 10 is formed from asingle blank of material, and that in forming this blank, a plurality ofinterrupted score lines indicated in dotted line in the drawing areformed at the portions of the blank as shown whereby the blank can bereadily and easily formed, or folded, to the operative shape shown inside elevation in FIG. 2. As a part of the formation for the blank, aplurality of cuts 15, 15 are formed in spaced relationship at the scoreline defin ing the connection between the edge section 8 and the endpanel 12, and a pair of similar cuts 16, 16 are formed in the score lineat the connection of the end panel 13 with the edge section or panel 9.Other cuts indicated by the numerals 17, 17 are formed at the oppositem-argin of the end panel 12 where it connects to the outer wall of thecenter section 2, and similar cuts 18, 18 are pro* vided in an adjacentwall 5 of the center section 2 which cuts partially extend into thecenter panel or section and also extend a short distance into the wall5. Likewise, cuts correspond-ing to those 17, 17 and 18, 18 are providedin the center section 3 at the score lines provided therefor. These cutsare all spaced from each other `the proper distance so that twoarticles, such as the cans .10, can be positioned below each of thepanels in the top member 1 in the shape illustrated in the drawings andhave a portion of a top chime 19 of each of the cans engage with slotsthat thus are produced in the vertically extending walls of the topmember 1 when operatively positioned. The cuts provided in thispaperboard blank form short flaps -or edge portions on the associatedpanel to extend lout in the normal horizontal plane of the remainder ofthe panel when the top member is operatively shaped so that such topflaps -or edge portions will extend outwardly over the can chime whenthe cans and top member are operatively associated. These cuts providein the blank form slots 20 in the associated walls of the top member andwith the lower margin of the can chime 19 normally being engaged by theassociated edge of one of the slots 20. When the cans Iand package meansof the invent-ion are fully assembled, the adjacent cans 10 will usuallyhave portions of their chimes 19 abutting against each other, as bestshown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, and this lfacilitates forming atightly packed assembly for effective, convenient storage,transportation and use of the package assembly of the invention.

Usually it is desirable to provide some type of a handle or graspingmeans in the package assembly of the invention, and the packageassembly, indicated as a whole by the numeral 21, in FIG. 3, thus hassome special cuts provided in the top member 1 when such member isformed by a blanking or other cutting action. FIG. 1 clearly shows thatthumb and finger receiving slots, or holes 22 and 23 are formed in thetop member 1 with such holes extending the entire depth, usually, of thewalls 5 and 7 and extending inwardly of the center panel 11 ltowardseach other a short distance. These holes, as extended into the top panel11 or center panel 11 may be of semi-cylindrical shape, or of elongateV-shape, as desired. It is a feature of the invention that the walls 4and 6 of the center sections 2 and 3 each extend continuously the entiredimension of the top member and in this instance, these walls extendtransversely so as to provide an effective reenforced center portion inthe package assembly 21 to provide for effective positioning and/orsupport, partially, at least, of the various packaged articles from andby .the top member 1.

It is a further feature of the invention that elongate holes orapertures 24 and 25 are formed at the fold line connecting the walls 4and 6, respectively, to their associated end panels and with suchelongate apertures 24 and 25 being of substantially the same length asthe base width of the thumb and finger receiving holes 22 and 23 butwith such holes only extending a fraction, usually less than half of thedepth of the walls 4 and 6. These apertures 24 and 25, when the top-member 1 is operatively positioned, provide clearance areas or openingsto facilitate a person inserting his thumb and finger into engagementwith the holes 22 and 23 for convenient grasping and carrying of thepackaged articles. When the top member 1 is Aoperatively positioned, itwill be noted that the apertures 24 and 25 are immediately adjacent theholes 22 and 23.

In order to complete the pack-age assembly 21, a conventional type of anendless open ended heat shrinkable plastic band 26 is provided. Thisband 26 is made from any known heat shrinkable plastic film, which maybe made from rubber hydrochlorides, vinyls, polypropylenes, and thelike. The films usually are quite thin, such as about .001 inch inthickness and they can be formed around the assembly of the top member 1and the articles, such ash the cans 10, to be associated therewith,after which the band 2-6 can be engaged with the assembly by anyconventional means. After the band is once formed around and engages thetop member 1 and the cans or other articles associated therewith, thenthe assembly is suitably processed by the application of heat theretowhereby the heat shrunk band 26 will be in tight engagement with the topmember 1 and all of the cans 10.

FIGURE 3 of the drawings best shows that the band 26 has edge portions27 that extend over the edge flap or section 8 of the top member for thefull length thereto and firmly and tightly draw such edge flap orsection into engagement with the associated cans to retainlongitudinally applied contracting forces to the top member 1 and theassociated articles. Usually a lower section of the band, indicated at28, extends up over the lower end portions of the cans y10 in thepackage assembly 21 to again draw the cans longitudinally inwardlytowards each other and form a tight unitary package. The drawing clearlybrings out that the endless band Z6 extends around the assembly o-f thetop member and cans from top to ybott-om thereof to cover the exposedend or side portions of all of the cans and with such band 26, ingeneral, having a longitudinal axis extending along the longitudinalaxes of the assembly of the cans. This endless band also further engagesthe laterally outer corners of the top member 1 where the edge sectionsor panels 8 and 9 are folded over into engagement with end portions ofthe can assembly and this effectively reenforces the top member andassembly of the invention to secure all of the articles in tightlypacked association. The top member is shorter in width than the rows oftwo cans received thereunder so that the band 26 also engages a top edgeof each can and extends thereover down an exposed portion of the side ofeach can.

Yet a further feature of the package assembly 21 of the invention isthat the endless band 26 has pairs of slits provided therein adjacentthe grasping means, specifically the holes 22 and 23 in the packageassembly. Thus a longitudinally extending slit 29 is provided in theAband 26 immediately above the hole 22 and it extends axially of thepackage assembly. A transversely extending slit 3@ is formed spacedaxially outwardly a short distance from the slit Z9 and extending normalthereto, which slit 3f) is substantially above an edge of the centersection 2 of the top member. Ends Stia of the slit 3i) extend axiallyoutwardly to facilitate tearing the band axially for package openingaction. Corresponding slits are formed in association with the fingerreceiving hole 23 in the package assembly whereby when one wants tocarry the package assembly, one can readily insert ones thumb and/ orfinger through the endless band 26 at the slits 30 and 31 therein, whichband will readily be torn by the pressures applied thereto. However, upuntil such time, the slits 29 and 30 stay at least substantially closedso that the band 26 will remain in tight, substantially sealedengagement with the packaged articles to keep them clean and there is nopossibility of any dirt or other foreign material collecting on any ofthe top surfaces of the packaged articles.

FIGURE 1 of the drawings also indicates that certain indicia can beprinted upon the top member l when it is still in blank form from eitherof the slits 3u axially outwardly and start the opening of the packageassembly. Thereafter, one can lift the edge flap 8 or 9 and complete theopening of the package assembly for access to the end cans thereof. Evenafter, for example, the two cans at one end of the package assembly havebeen removed, the endless band 26 and the associated portions of the topmember ll will retain the remaining four cans in a relatively neatlypackaged, stable unit. The film in the band 26 is shown of exaggeratedthickness in the drawings.

From the foregoing, it is believed that it will be seen that a novel andimproved package assembly has been provided by the invention. Thisassembly provides good lateral and longitudinal stability in the packageassembly and maintains the packaged articles in tightly groupedassociation for storage, transport and sale. Normally, the endless band2e are formed from transparent materials whereby any advertising dataappearing on the packaged articles is readily visible and sale anddisplay of the package assembly 21 is facilitated. Thus, it is believedthat the objects of the invention have been achieved.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particularembodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A carrier and package assembly for a plurality of cylindricalarticles, such as cans, having laterally protruding chime rings at theirupper ends and comprising a top means having a pair of downwardlyextending center sections, each having a double wall and a pair ofparallel downwardly directed walls forming edge sections, one of saidwalls of each of said center sections being an outer wall and beingspaced from an edge section about the distance of a diameter of saidcans for receiving a row of cans therebetween, and the remaining wallsof said center sections being spaced for receiving a row of canstherebetween,

a plurality of cans positioned below said top means in a plurality oftransversely extending rows to provide an assembly of cans,

at least one wall of each of said double wall center sections beingcontinuous from margin to margin of said top means to provide stabilitythereto,

chime engaging means on each wall of said center and edge sections inopposed relation and engaging the chime rings of said cans, and

open ended heat shrunk e-ndless band means tightly engaging said cansand top means and extending fully around the sides, tops and bottoms ofsaid cans in said assembly to retain said cans grouped together into acompact unitary assembly with said top means and to further hold saidchime engaging means and cans in engagement.

2. A carrier and package assembly for a plurality of cylindricalarticles, such as cans, having laterally protruding chime rings at theirupper ends and comprising a top means having a pair of downwardlyextending center sections, each having a double wall and a pair ofparallel downwardly directed walls forming edge sections, one of saidwalls of each of said center sections being an outer wall spaced from anedge section about the diameter of said cans for receiving a cantherebetween, and the remaining walls of said center sections beingspaced for receiving a can therebetween,

a plurality of cans positioned below said top means,

at least one wall of each of said double wall center sections beingcontinuous from margin to margin of said top means to provide stabilitythereto,

chime engaging slots in each wall of said center and edge sections inopposed relation and engaging the chime rings of said cans, and

open ended heat shrunk endless band means tightly engaging said cans andtop means and extending fully around the sides, tops and bottoms of saidcans in said asembly to retain said cans grouped together into a compactunitary assembly with said top means and to further hold said chimeengaging slots and cans in engagement.

3. A carrier and package assembly for a plurality of cylindricalarticles, such as cans, having laterally protruding chime rings at theirupper ends and comprising a top means having a pair of downwardlyextending transversely directed center sections each having a doublewall and a pair of parallel downwardly directed walls forming edgesections, one said wall of each of said center sections being an outerwall spaced from an edge section about the diameter of said cans forreceiving a row of cans therebetween, and the other walls of said centersections being inner walls similarly spaced from each other forreceiving a row of cans therebetween, said center sections definingtherebetween a center panel and edge panels being formed between each ofsaid center sections and the adjacent edge section, portions of saidcenter panel and center sections inn-er walls being removed to providegrasping means for said assembly but theouter walls of each of saidcenter sections being conv tinuous from edge to edge of said top means,an upper section of each of said center walls and an adjacent area ofeach of said edge panels being removed to provide convenient access tosaid grasping means, a plurality of cans positioned below said top meansin three rows of cans to provide an assembly thereof,

chime engaging means operatively formed by each wall of said center andedge sections in opposed relation and engaging the chime rings of saidcans, and

open ended heat shrunk endless band means tightly engaging said cans andtop means and extending around the sides, tops and bottoms of said cansin said assembly to retain said cans group-ed together into a compactunitary assembly with said top means and t0 retain said edge sectionwalls in engagement with the adjacent portions of said cans.

4. A carrier and package assembly for a plurality of cylindricalarticles, such as cans, having laterally protruding chime rings attheir' upper ends and comprising la top means having a pair ofdownwardly extending transversely directed center sections each having adouble wall and a pair of parallel downwardly directed walls formingedge sections, one said wall of each of said center sections beingspaced from an edge section about the diameter of said cans forreceiving a row of cans therebetween, and the other walls of said centersections being simil-arly spaced from each other for receiving anotherrow of cans therebetween, said center sections defining therebetween acenter panel, portions of said center panel and center sections beingremoved to provide grasp ing means for said assembly but at least onewall yof each of said center sections being continuous from edge to edgeof said top means,

a plurality of cans positioned below said top means in threetransversely extending rows of cans to provide an assembly thereof,

chime engagi-ng means operatively formed by each |wall of said centerand edge sections in opposed rel-ation and engaging the chime rings ofsaid cans, and

open ended heat shrunk endless plastic lin band means tightly engagingsaid cans and top means and extending around the sides, tops and bottomsof said cans in said assembly to retain said cans grouped together intoVa compact unitary assembly with said top means and to retain said edgesection walls in engagement with the adjacent portions of said cans,each of said cans being tightly held in engagement with associatedportions of two of said walls.

5. An assembly as in claim di where said band means is provided with two:adjacent but separate slits positioned at right angles to each other atsaid grasping means to facilitate rupture of said band means andinsertion of thumb and lingers into engagement with said grasping meanswhen the `assembly is to be carried.

A6. An assembly as in claim where said slits facilitate tearing said-band longitudinally from said slits to the adjacent end of said topmeans, the end cans in the assembly being exposed for removal by nippingup the edge section wall after said band is torn from said slits to suchedge section wall.

7. An assembly as in claim 4 lwhere said band means tightly engages saidedge walls and the corners thereof with said top means to retain saidcans tightly associated.

8. A carrier and package assembly for `a plurality of cylindricalarticles, such as cans, having laterally protruding chime rings at theirupper ends and Comprising an elongate top means having a pair ofparallel spaced transversely directed downwardly extending centersections, each having a double wall and la pair of parallel downwardlydirected Walls forming edge sections, one of said walls of each of saidcenter sections being an outer wall spaced from an edge section aboutthe diameter of said cans for receiving a row of two cans therebetween,and the remaining walls of said center sections being inner iwallsspaced for receiving a row of two cans therebetween and deining atransversely extending center panel in said top means,

six cans positioned bel-ow said top means in three transverselyextending rows to provide an assembly thereof, `all of the cans in saidrows `being abutted against adjacent cans at said chime rings,

at least one wall of each of said double wall center sections beingcontinuous from margin to margin of said top means to provide stabilitytherein, said top means shorter in width than the length of said rows,

chime engaging slots on each wall of said center and edge sections inopposed relation and engaging the chime rings of said cans, and

open ended heat shrunk endless band means tightly engaging said cans andtop means and extending fully around the sides, tops and bottoms Iofsaid cans in said assembly to retain said cans grouped together into acompact unitary assembly with said top means, said band means engagingparts of the outer upper edges of all of said cans and the entirelengths of said edge sections to further -hold said top means and cansin tight engagement.

9. An assembly as in claim 8 where said band means is provided with twosets of two adjacent but separate slits positioned at right angles toeach other at opposed portions of said center panel, -one slit of eachof said sets extending parallel to said center panel and the other slitof each of said sets extending axially from said first slit tofacilitate rupture of said band means and insertion of a thumb and afinger into engagement with said center panel and cans thereunder whenthe assembly is to be carried.

10, An assembly as in claim 9 where said rst-named slit of each of saidsets of slits has axially outwardly extending ends to facilitate tearingsaid band longitudinah ly and said other slit of e-ach of said sets ispositioned axially inwardly of said rst-named slit.

lil. A carrier and pack-age assembly for a plurality of cylindricalarticles, such as cans, having laterally protruding chime rings `attheir upper ends and comprising an elongate paperboard top means havinga pair of downwardly extending center sections, each having a doublewall and a pair of parallel downwardly directed walls forming edgesections, one of said walls of each of said center sections being anouter wall spaced from an edge section about the diameter of said cansfor receiving a can therebetween, and the remaining walls of said centersections being spaced for receiving a can therebetween, `said wallsforming transversely extending center and two end panels in said topmeans, a plurality of cans positioned below said top means, at least onewall of each of said double wall center sections being continuous frommargin to margin of said top means to provide sta-bility thereto,

chime engaging slots in each wall of said center and edge sections inopposed relation and engaging the chime rings of said cans, and

open ended heat shrunk endless band means tightly engaging said cans andtop means and extending fully around the sides, tops and bottoms of saidcans in said assembly to retain said cans grouped together into acompact unitary assembly With said top means and to further hold saidchime engaging slots and cans in engagement.

l2. A carrier and package `assembly for a plurality of cylindricalarticles, such as cans, having laterally protruding chime rings at theirupper ends and comprising a elongate top means having at least onedownwardly extending center section having a double wall and having apair of parallel downwardly directed walls forming edge sections, one ofsaid walls said center section being an outer wall spaced from an edgesection about the diameter of said cans for receiving a row of canstherebetween,

cans positioned below said top means in rows to provide an assemblythereof, all of the cans in said rows being abutted against adjacentcans at said chime rings,

chime engaging slots on each wall of said center and edge sections inopposed relation and engaging the chime rings of said cans, and

open ended heat shrunk endless band means tightly engaging said cans andtop means and extending fully around the sides, tops and bottoms of saidcans in said assembly to retain said cans grouped together into acompact unitary assembly with said top means,

said band means heing provided with two sets of two adjacent butseparate slits positioned at right angles to each other at opposedportions of said top means, one `slit of each of said sets extendingtransversely of said top means and the other slit of eac-h of said setsextending axially inwardly from said first slit to facilitate rupture ofsaid band means and insertion of a thumb and a linger into engagementwith said top means and cans thereunder when the assembly is to becarried.

No references cited.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

M. L. RICE, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CARRIER AND PACKAGE ASSEMBLY FOR A PLURALITY OF CYLINDRICALARTICLES, SUCH AS CANS, HAVING LATERALLY PROTRUDING CHIME RINGS AT THEIRUPPER ENDS AND COMPRISING A TOP MEANS HAVING A PAIR OF DOWNWARDLYEXTENDING CENTER SECTIONS, EACH HAVING A DOUBLE WALL AND A PAIR OFPARALLEL DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED WALLS FORMING EDGE SECTIONS, ONE OF SAIDWALLS OF EACH OF SAID CENTER SECTIONS BEING AN OUTER WALL AND BEINGSPACED FROM AN EDGE SECTION ABOUT THE DISTANCE OF A DIAMETER OF SAIDCANS FOR RECEIVING A ROW OF CANS THEREBETWEEN, AND THE REMAINING WALLSOF SAID CENTER SECTIONS BEING SPACED FOR RECEIVING A ROW OF CANSTHEREBETWEEN, A PLURALITY OF CANS POSITIONED BELOW SAID TOP MEANS IN APLURALITY OF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING ROWS TO PROVIDE AN ASSEMBLY OF CANS,AT LEAST ONE WALL OF EACH OF SAID DOUBLE WALL CENTER SECTIONS BEINGCONTINUOUS FROM MARGIN TO MARGIN OF SAID TOP MEANS TO PROVIDE STABILITYTHERETO, CHIME ENGAGING MEANS ON EACH WALL OF SAID CENTER AND EDGESECTIONS IN OPPOSED RELATION AND ENGAGING THE CHIME RINGS OF SAID CANS,AND OPEN ENDED HEAT SHRUNK ENDLESS BAND MEANS TIGHTLY ENGAGING SAID CANSAND TOP MEANS AND EXTENDING FULLY AROUND THE SIDES, TOPS AND BOTTOMS OFSAID CANS IN SAID ASSEMBLY TO RETAIN SAID CANS GROUPED TOGETHER INTO ACOMPACT UNITARY ASSEMBLY WITH SAID TOP MEANS AND TO FURTHER HOLD SAIDCHIME ENGAGING MEANS AND CANS IN ENGAGEMENT.